|
|
|
 All
About Santa Claus
The
character of Santa Claus has taken on many forms and
many names throughout the centuries and at different
times and in different cultures, the famous Christmas
character would take on a multitude of different
appearances and forms. Even the name has changed over
time as the name Santa Claus itself derives from the
mispronunciation of a Dutch variant on other common name
Santa is most associated, St. Nicholas. So, how then did
all these different variations become the modern day
American image of Santa Claus, the bearded jolly old fat
man in a red suit who bellows “Ho! Ho! Ho!”? Well,
it was a process that slowly developed throughout the 19th
century starting with a poem in a newspaper. Read
More...
Be
sure to also check out our other Christmas Article
Sections:
The
History of Christmas | All
About Santa | Christmas
Trees | Christmas
Traditions
|
|
|
Santa
Claus Articles
|
|
 Santa
Claus in other Countries
- During
the holiday season there is
someone who brings gifts for all
the good little boys and girls.
Now, if those boys and girls are
bad they may end up with a
heaping helpful of coal and if
you are bad you are not going to
get away with anything because
she is very careful to keep her
eyes on who is bad. No, that was
not a typo. “She” is the
correct word because this was
not a reference to jolly old St.
Nick it was a reference to the
Bottina Lady who was Italy’s
version of Santa Claus many
years past. Read
More...
|
|
|
 Here
comes Santa Claus
- Saint
Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris
Kringle, are all names
associated with Santa Claus who
is believed to be a legendary
and historical character that brings
gifts to all persons, especially
children on Christmas Day.
The
myths of Santa Claus came from
the early Christian church from
an actual Bishop in the 4th
century.
He lived in Myra, in the
now present day Turkey.
Nicholas was a generous
man, who helped a lot of the
poorer population in Myra. There is a kind deed that he is famous for and is recorded in
many theological writings.
It was said that he
presented three poverty stricken
daughters of a righteous man
with dowries so that they could
be married properly and not have
to become prostitutes. Read
More...
|
|
|
 Santa
Claus is everybody
- The
knowledge of Santa Claus has
been around for centuries.
In Turkey he was a
religious bishop who lived in
what is now
called province of Turkey.
He was said to have a
generous spirit and gave to the
poor of the town.
He was later canonized as
Saint Nicholas of Myra. In
Germany, he was the holy Saint
Nicholas who saved children from
a demon and later used the demon
to help him bring gifts to the
children.
In America, he is Santa
Claus, derived from the name
Sinterklass, a Dutch old man who
was kind and gave to children at
Christmas time.
But
who really is Santa Claus? Let’s look at what he is not.
He is not an omnipresent
being who can be at all places
at the same time.
He is not the one who
comes to your house while you
are sleeping on Christmas Eve
and fills your living room or
wherever your tree is with
presents.
He is not capable of
flying a sleigh and he does not
have any reindeer that fly.
He does not know when you
are good or when you are bad and
cannot see you everywhere you
go. Read
More... |
|
|
 The
American Santa Claus
- The character
of Santa Claus has taken on many
forms and many names throughout
the centuries and at different
times and in different cultures,
the famous Christmas character
would take on
a multitude of different
appearances and forms. Even the
name has changed over time as the
name Santa Claus itself derives
from the mispronunciation of a
Dutch variant on other common name
Santa is most associated, St.
Nicholas. So, how then did all
these different variations become
the modern day American image of
Santa Claus, the bearded jolly old
fat man in a red suit who bellows
“Ho! Ho! Ho!”? Well, it was a
process that slowly developed
throughout the 19th
century starting with a poem in a
newspaper. Read
More...
|
|
|
 Why
Santa Brings Gifts
- If
there was ever was a candidate for
endearing figure in American and,
for that matter, world culture it
would have to be Santa Claus. Yet,
despite the fact that Santa Claus
remains the single most associated
figure with the Christmas season,
most people
are not all that familiar with the
origins of Santa Claus nor the
symbolic meaning behind much of
what is associated with Santa and
his delivering of gifts during the
Christmas Season.
For
example, the origin of presenting
gifts at Christmas is believed to
derive from the birth of Christ
when the three wise men presented
the Baby Jesus with gold,
frankincense and myrrh. (Actually,
the notion of exchanging gifts
during the winter season is
believed to have begun many
centuries prior to the birth of
Christ in what is now considered
modern day Iraq) This winter time
tradition later morphed into the
tradition of exchanging gifts at
Christmas time. But, how did this
tradition of exchanging gifts
become associated with Santa
Claus? Read
More...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gift
Ideas by Recipient
|
|
|
 Buy
her something Unique and Unusual
Choose
from our selection of unique and
unusual handcrafted arts and
crafts from the Far East. We
have Silk Scarves and Shawls
from Thailand. Exotic Jewelry
from Bali, Thailand, and Russia;
and a great assortment of Home
Decor items.
Click
Here for Gifts Ideas for Her |
|
|
 Buy
Him something Out of the
Ordinary.
Men
are always difficult to shop
for. Choose from our selection
of over 7,000 different unique
and unusual handcrafted arts and
crafts from the Far East and
South of the Border. We
have Dragons and Foo Lions in
Brass and Jade, Tribal Masks
from Bali, Chinese Snuff
Bottles, and many other unusual
items.
Click
Here for Gift Ideas for Him
|
|
 Show
that special Employee or
Customer how much you appreciate
them.
Choose
from our selection of unique and
unusual handcrafted arts and
crafts from the Far East and
Latin America. We
have Silk Scarves and Shawls
from Thailand. Exotic Jewelry
from Bali, Thailand, and Russia;
and a great assortment of Home
Decor items.
Click
Here for Corporate Gift Ideas |
|
|
Other
Gift Idea Tools
|
|
|
 Chinese
Zodiac Chart -
Select a gift according to the
Chinese Zodiac based on the year
they were born. Year of the
Dragon, etc.
|
|
 Standard
Zodiac Gemstone Chart -
Select a stone carving or
jewelry based on the standard
Zodiac Gemstone chart. Each sign
lists several alternatives.
|
|
 Birthstone
Chart - The old standby,
traditional and modern
birthstones. Our list includes
many alternatives to the more
expensive gemstones the jewelry
stores recommend.
|
|
|
Gifts
For the Entertainer
|
|
 Japanese
Sushi Sets
- Add an Asian flare to
you next dinner of Sushi
or Chinese food. These
complete sets include
everything you need.
Plates, Sauce Dishes, and
Chopsticks |
|
Sushi
for 2 from $26.95 to
$54.95
|
|
|
 Japanese
Sake Sets
- The finest traditional glazes
are used to create these sake
sets that are as much art as
they are functional. We offer
one of the largest selection
available. |
|
Priced
from $19.95 to $71.95 |
|
|
Gifts
For the Tea Lover
|
|
 Tea
Sets -
Enjoy your next pot of tea
in the tradition style
with one of our hand
crafted tea sets. Imported
from Japan, China, and
Vietnam. |
|
Priced
from $24.95 to $64.95
|
|
|
 Asian
Teas -
Select from over 30
varieties of the finest
teas available. Our teas
are imported from Japan,
China, Ceylon, and India
and include Green, Oolong,
Black, and flavored teas. |
|
Priced
from $5.95 to $27.95
|
|
|
 Tetsubin
Teapots -
All of our Tetsubin
teapots are handcrafted
and imported from Japan.
Each pot is lined with a
baked enamel finish to
provide years of use. A
stainless steel mesh
infuser filter is included
with each teapot. Each pot
comes in a sturdy box,
ready to giftwrap. |
|
Priced
from $40.00 to $70.00
|
|
|
 Yixing
Teapots
- The tiny air pockets in
the fired clay provide
insulation and enrich the
aroma and taste of the
tea. With continued use
the yixing tea pot will
absorb the flavor of the
tea… again enhancing the
aroma and taste. Yixing
tea pots date back to the
Sung Dynasty. Each piece
is individually
handcrafted in China. |
|
Priced
from $22.95 to $56.95
|
|
|
 Tea
Cups -
Beautiful handcrafted tea
cups imported from Japan
and China in a wide
variety of designs. |
|
Priced
from $9.95 to $22.95
|
|
|
|
Gifts
For the Decorator
|
|
 Decorative
Vases - Choose
from 100 different vases from
around the world. Our selection
includes vases from China,
Vietnam, Japan, Peru, Nicaragua,
and Mexico. |
|
 Sculptures
- Ceramic, Jade, Brass,
Bronze, Wood, and more from over
a dozen different countries.
Something to fit any decor or
taste. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
